Rhubarb extract partially improves mucosal integrity in chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis

Abstract

AIM

To investigate the effects of orally gavaged aqueous rhubarb extract (RE) on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis in rats.

METHODS

Female Dark Agouti rats (n = 8/group) were gavaged daily (1 mL) with water, high-dose RE (HDR; 200 mg/kg) or low-dose RE (LDR; 20mg/kg) for eight days. Intestinal mucositis was induced (day 5) with 5-FU (150 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection. Intestinal tissue samples were collected for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histological examination. Xenopus oocytes expressing aquaporin 4 water channels were prepared to examine the effect of aqueous RE on cell volume, indicating a potential mechanism responsible for modulating net fluid absorption and secretion in the gastrointestinal tract. Statistical significance was assumed at P < 0.05 by one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Bodyweight was significantly reduced in rats administered 5-FU compared to healthy controls (P < 0.01). Rats administered 5-FU significantly increased intestinal MPO levels (≥ 307%; P < 0.001), compared to healthy controls. However, LDR attenuated this effect in 5-FU treated rats, significantly decreasing ileal MPO activity (by 45%; P < 0.05), as compared to 5-FU controls. 5-FU significantly reduced intestinal mucosal thickness (by ≥ 29% P < 0.001) as compared to healthy controls. LDR significantly increased ileal mucosal thickness in 5-FU treated rats (19%; P < 0.05) relative to 5-FU controls. In xenopus oocytes expressing AQP4 water channels, RE selectively blocked water influx into the cell, induced by a decrease in external osmotic pressure. As water efflux was unaltered by the presence of extracellular RE, the directional flow of water across the epithelial barrier, in the presence of extracellular RE, indicated that RE may alleviate water loss across the epithelial barrier and promote intestinal health in chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis.

CONCLUSION

In summary, low dose RE improves selected parameters of mucosal integrity and reduces ileal inflammation, manifesting from 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis.

Key Words: Fluorouracil; Inflammation; Mucositis; Rats; Rheum

Core tip: Aqueous rhubarb extract partially improved selected parameters of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis in rats. Exposure to 5-FU decreased bodyweight, yet high-dose rhubarb extract (RE) and low-dose RE (LDR) showed no changes. Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly decreased in rats treated with LDR and 5-FU when compared to the intestinal mucositis control group. Ileal mucosal thickness was significantly improved (19%) in animals with intestinal mucositis and treated with LDR. In xenopus oocytes expressing AQP4 water channels, RE blocked swelling induced by a decrease in external osmotic pressure which indicated that water influx across the epithelial barrier was selectively blocked by RE.

INTRODUCTION

Traditional herbal medicines have been used for centuries in the maintenance and improvement of health or the treatment of illnesses. Globally, ancient herbal remedies have been created based on theories, beliefs and experiences representing various cultures at different times throughout history[1]. Consequently, traditional herbal medicines are being investigated increasingly for their potential to treat and reduce the symptoms of a wide variety of diseases and disorders, specifically cancer and its treatment-related side-effects. Many cancer patients seek alternative medicines that will complement their standard-care treatments with the hope that they will improve symptoms associated with either the cancer or their anti-cancer treatments[2].

Cancer is a life-threatening illness affecting millions of individuals world-wide. In westernized countries approximately 50% of the population will develop cancer before the age of 85[3]. Chemotherapy forms one of the most common strategies for cancer treatment. Cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), act by inhibiting DNA synthesis of not only malignant cells, but also rapidly dividing cells lining the intestinal mucosa[4]. An increase in cell apoptosis stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-4 resulting in further tissue and blood vessel damage[5,6]. This cascade of events results in a range of debilitating clinical side-effects, from nausea and vomiting to inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract; and sepsis may occur if untreated[7,8]. These painful and life-threatening side-effects collectively form a disorder known as intestinal mucositis which affects approximately 60% of patients undergoing chemotherapy[9]. Current therapies for intestinal mucositis seek to reduce the severity of symptoms rather than acting as a curative or preventative measure[10,11]. Thus, treatments are required with the potential to eliminate or reduce the adverse side-effects of cancer chemotherapy.

Recently, in experimental systems, plant extracts such as grape seed extract (GSE) and Iberogast^® have been investigated as potential treatments for intestinal mucositis on the basis of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant constituents[12-14]. Indeed, plant-sourced molecules and compounds are commonly perceived to be safer therapeutics compared to synthetic compounds[15]. There are limited studies on the pharmacology of herbal medicines, yet such extracts may offer protection against intestinal mucositis in an experimental setting. The scientific study of further plant-based extracts is therefore warranted.

Rhubarb, Rheum spp., is a herbaceous perennial plant with a long, fleshy stalk, commonly used for cooking and medicine. Dried rhubarb rhizomes were traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a natural remedy for gastrointestinal complications including diarrhoea, constipation and inflammation[16]. The pharmacological effects have been attributed to the stalk of the plant[17,18]. Two main active constituents (ethanol-soluble and water soluble) have been classified in rhubarb stalks. Anthraquinones form the main ethanol-soluble active constituent of rhubarb stalks[14]. These constituents have exhibited a diarrhoeal effect in mice providing a possible purgative mechanism of action[18]. In contrast, the aqueous extract of rhubarb has recently demonstrated anti-diarrhoeal properties, believed to be mediated by tannins through regulation of intestinal water secretion and absorption[18]. Importantly, chemotherapy recipients experiencing intestinal mucositis have altered membrane integrity and impaired water absorption and secretion[7,19].

Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins responsible for the regulation of water transport across a membrane via an osmotic gradient[20,21]. Aquaporin channels are tetramers with a water pore located in each subunit of the channel (Figure 1A). Water molecules move in single file through aquaporin pores, down osmotic and hydrostatic gradients. As one molecule enters via the extracellular region of the channel, another molecule is displaced into the cytoplasm and vice versa[22]. Currently, 13 mammalian AQPs have been identified (AQP 0-12). AQPs are abundant in tissues reliant on high water permeability to maintain correct function[21,23] and are involved in metabolic processes such as kidney, lung, brain and gastrointestinal function[24-26]. In the human gastrointestinal tract, AQPs 3, 7 and 8 are expressed throughout the mucosal epithelia, and AQP1 is present in endothelial cells of the vasculature. In early stage inflammatory bowel disease, tight junctions and transport systems are impaired, leading to a leaky epithelium. Clinical human biopsies showed that levels of expression of AQPs1 and 3 are reduced in Crohn’s Disease and AQPs 7 and 8 are decreased in ulcerative colitis, based on quantitative PCR and immunolabelling assays[27]. As well, the typical apical localisation of AQP8 in bowel was lost, and the appearance of a faint basolateral signal suggested intestinal epithelial cell polarity was disrupted.

Figure 1 Directional blockade of water flux through an aquaporin-4 channel by reconstituted aqueous rhubarb extract. A: Diagram of a water channel illustrating the intra-subunit water pores in each subunit of the tetramer; B: Illustration of the volume changes induced by osmotic gradients in mammalian AQP4-expressing Xenopus oocytes; C: Dose-dependent blockade of swelling but not shrinking responses by rhubarb extract (RE) in AQP4-expressing oocytes; D: Diagram of the hypothesized effect of blockade by extracellular RE at AQP4 channels present in the basolateral side of intestinal barrier epithelial cells, predicted to result in enhanced net fluid absorption.

Aquaporin-4 (AQP 4) is believed to provide the principal mechanism for bidirectional water transport across the basolateral membrane of small intestinal enterocytes[28]. These water channels ensure that efficient water absorption and secretion is maintained, thus allowing for adequate hydration and optimal stool consistency[29]. Liu et al[17] demonstrated that the anti-diarrhoeal effect of rhubarb tannins extract occurred via the inhibition of AQP 2 and 3 expression in vitro and in a mouse model of magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhoea. In addition, the water-soluble polysaccharides of rhubarb have protected the gastrointestinal tract against inflammation resulting from 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis[17]. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of action underlying rhubarb extract (RE) remains unclear; however, it is thought that tannins may reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IFN-γ[17]. Consequently, RE was explored for its anti-inflammatory potential in intestinal mucositis and its potential to influence water transport across the intestinal mucosa[17,18].

In the current study, an aqueous fraction of rhubarb was investigated for its potential to reduce intestinal damage induced by the antimetabolite chemotherapy drug, 5-FU in rats. It was hypothesised that RE would decrease the severity of intestinal mucositis by improving histopathological parameters and potentially regulate faecal output via water secretion into the intestinal lumen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RE preparation

Rhubarb stems (2.5 kg) were sectioned (1 cm) and boiled with absolute ethanol to remove alcohol-soluble components. Once cooled, the liquid was discarded and the residues were further boiled with water. The aqueous rhubarb components were retained for dehydration to obtain a concentrated powder[17]. Dehydration was conducted by freeze-drying at the South Australian Research and Development Institute, West Beach, South Australia. Four grams of powder were obtained for every 500 g of fresh rhubarb. Based on fractionation of the extract, the active agent appears to be a water-soluble ethanol-insoluble glycopeptide. Lectin array profiling has indicated that mannose and N-acetylglucosamine are predominant components of the carbohydrate structure. The precise chemical structure and possible presence of more than one isoform with biological activity remains to be determined.

Animal trial, metabolism data and disease Activity index

Six week old female Dark Agouti rats (n = 32; 110-150 g) were sourced from the Animal Resources Centre (Western Australia) and Laboratory Animal Services (The University of Adelaide, South Australia). All animal experimentation was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the University of Adelaide (S-2010-111). The animal protocol described in this study was designed to minimise pain or discomfort to the animals and complied with the National Health and Medical Research Council Code of Practice for Animal Care in Research and Teaching. Prior to the experimentation period, rats were individually housed in Tecniplast™ (PA, United States) metabolism cages for 48 hours to acclimatise. Rats received ad libitum water and 18% Casein diet[30] and were exposed to a 12 h light-dark cycle in a temperature controlled room (22 °C). After the acclimatisation phase, rats were randomly allocated to four treatment groups (n= 8/group): Water + Saline, Water + 5-FU, Low-Dose Rhubarb (LDR; 20 mg/kg BW) + 5-FU and High-Dose Rhubarb (HDR; 200 mg/kg BW) + 5-FU. Water, HDR and LDR (1 mL) were administered daily via orogastric gavage on days 0 to 7. LDR dose for gavage was based on the estimated dose required to block aquaporin water channel activity in the oocyte expression system, and the dose HDR was selected as a 10 fold higher concentration for comparison.

Daily recordings of body weight, feed and water intake and faecal and urine output were conducted. Faecal pellets were collected daily, weighed and placed in a drying oven at 70 °C for 72 h. The percentage weight loss was used as an indication of moisture content in the faecal samples. On day 5, rats were injected with 5-FU (150 mg/kg BW; Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria) to induce intestinal mucositis. The single high dose of 5-FU used in the current study was determined from previous studies in our laboratory[31]. Following 5-FU administration, daily disease activity index (DAI) scoring was performed by a blinded researcher based on overall condition, weight loss and stool consistency. Each parameter was scored based on a scale of 0 (normal) to 3 (maximal severity) giving a maximum daily total of 9 for severely affected rats[32,33].

Blood, organ and tissue collection

Rats were humanely euthanized on day 8 via carbon dioxide asphyxiation. Day 8 of the experimental period represented 3 d post 5-FU exposure and due to the acute nature of 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis, this was determined to be the optimal day when histological damage in the intestine was most evident. The gastrointestinal tract was removed and emptied, then the lengths of each section [duodenum, jejunum, jejuno-ileum junction (JI), ileum and colon] were recorded and weighed.

Segments (2 cm and 4 cm) of the small intestine tract were collected at approximately 10% (jejunum) and 90% (ileum) of the total small intestine length for histological and biochemical analysis, respectively. Samples for histological analysis were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for 24 h and transferred to 70% ethanol for preservation. Segments for biochemical analysis were weighed and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen prior to storage at -80 °C. The remaining thoracic and abdominal organs (thymus, lungs, heart, spleen, kidneys, liver, stomach and caecum) were weighed and discarded.

Biochemical analysis

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme present in the intracellular granules of neutrophils and provides a quantitative analysis of acute inflammation. The assay was performed with slight modification from Beyer et al[34]. Segments of the small intestinal tract (jejunum, JI and ileum; 4 cm) were thawed and prepared for MPO assay via homogenization in 10 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 6.1). Homogenised samples were centrifuged at 13000 rpm for 12 min and the supernatant was discarded. The remaining pellet was resuspended with 0.5% hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide buffer and vortexed prior to a final centrifuge (13000 rpm for 2 min). Supernatant from each sample (50 μL aliquot) was dispensed into a 96-well plate and the MPO reaction was initiated with an O-dianisidine dihydrochloride solution (200 μL/well; 4.2 mg O-dianisidine dihydrochloride, 12.5 μL hydrogen peroxide (30%) in 2.5 mL potassium phosphate buffer (50 mmol/L, pH 6.1) and 22.5 mL distilled H₂O). A spectrometer (Victor X4 Multilabel Reader, Perkin Elmer, Singapore) measured absorbance (450 nm) at one minute intervals over a 15 min period. The change in absorbance was used to calculate MPO activity within a tissue sample (MPO units/g of intestinal tissue).

Histological analysis

Intestinal samples stored in 70% ethanol were embedded with paraffin wax and cross-sectioned at 4 μm. Histological slides were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Qualitative measurements of 40 villus and crypts per intestinal section (jejunum, JI and ileum) were performed blinded using Image ProPlus software for Windows (version 5.1.1; Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring MD, United States) connected to a Nikon Eclipse 50i light microscope (Nikon Cooperation, Japan) and a ProGres C5 digital camera (Jenoptik, Germany). Intestinal sections were also analysed quantitatively using disease severity scores based on 11 criteria described by Howarth et al[32]. Each criterion was scored on a scale of 0 (normal) to 3 (severely damaged) for five cross-sections of each intestinal region. The median score for each criterion was calculated and the scores of all criteria were summed to give an overall disease severity score; with a score of 33 indicating maximal tissue damage[32,33].

Xenopus oocyte preparation

Unfertilized oocytes from Xenopus laevis were prepared as described previously[35,36] and maintained in ND96 saline (96 mmol/L NaCl, 2 mmol/L KCl, 1 mmol/L MgCl₂, 1.8 mmol/L CaCl₂, and 5 mmol/L HEPES, pH 7.55) supplemented with 100 μg/mL penicillin,100 U/mL streptomycin, and 10% horse serum. Oocytes were injected with 50 nL of water containing 1 ng of rat AQP4 wild-type cRNA and were incubated for 2 or more days at 16-18 °C prior to osmotic swelling and shrinking assays in saline without antibiotics or serum. Hypotonic saline (50%) was prepared by diluting isotonic saline with an equal volume of water, whilst 200% hypertonic saline was prepared by doubling the NaCl concentration of the saline. Volume change rates were measured by videomicroscopy at 0.5 frames/s over 30 s using NIH ImageJ software (http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/), as described previously[35,36].

Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 19 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States) and GraphPad Prism 6.02 for Windows (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA, United States). Normality tests were performed on all data sets to determine parametric and non-parametric data. All parametric data (metabolic data, MPO activity and villus height/crypt depth measurements) was analysed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test. Non-parametric data (DSS and DAI) was analysed using Kruskal-Wallis with Mann Whitney U post hoc test. All data were expressed as mean ± SEM with the exception of disease severity scores which were expressed as medians and range. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Dose-dependent blockade of AQP4 water channel activity by extracellular aqueous RE

Cloned rat AQP 4 water channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes were analysed quantitatively for osmotically-driven changes in cell volume in the presence and absence of dried reconstituted aqueous RE. Decreased external osmotic pressure (50% hypotonic saline) induced a volume increase (swelling) that was blocked by RE (Figure 1B and C). In contrast, the volume decrease (shrinking) induced by 200% hypertonic saline was not significantly altered by RE (Figure 1B and C), indicating that the blocking effect of RE was directional. In the presence of extracellular RE, water influx into the cell mediated by AQP4 was selectively blocked, whereas water efflux was not altered, providing a potentially useful tool for differentially modulating net fluid absorption and secretion in the gastrointestinal tract. The current ex vivo study predicted that RE would act on basolateral AQP 4 channels and alleviate water loss across the barrier epithelium (Figure 1D), thereby promoting intestinal health in the experimental setting of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis.

Metabolic data and faecal moisture content

Low dose rhubarb (LDR) and high dose rhubarb (HDR) had no significant effect on metabolic parameters (bodyweight, feed and water intake and faecal and urine output) when compared to controls prior to administration of 5-FU (Table 1). After 5-FU administration, feed intake was significantly decreased (by 60%; P < 0.001) in comparison to healthy controls (Table 2). Furthermore, in 5-FU treated rats administered HDR, feed intake was further reduced by 55% when compared to 5-FU controls (P < 0.01). However, normal feed intake was maintained in 5-FU treated rats administered LDR. Although feed intake was significantly reduced in 5-FU controls, there was no reduction in wet faecal output compared to healthy controls. However, in 5-FU treated rats administered HDR, faecal output was reduced by 41% in comparison to 5-FU controls. There were no significant effects on water intake and urine output between control and RE treatment groups (Table 2). Similarly, no significant effects on faecal moisture content were evident among all treatment groups, before or after 5-FU administration (data not shown).

Table 1 Total daily food (g) and water (mL) intake, and faecal (g) and urine (mL) output for the trial period prior to the administration of 5-FU (days 1 to 5).

	Water	LDR	HDR
Food intake (g)	51.0 ± 0.7	52.3 ± 2.0	53.8 ± 1.0
Water Intake (mL)	122.5 ± 7.3	129.4 ± 12.0	115.0 ± 7.1
Wet faecal output (g)	6.2 ± 0.3	6.8 ± 0.3	6.6 ± 0.4
Urine output (mL)	79.3 ± 5.6	79.8 ± 6.1	85.8 ± 5.0

Rats were gavaged daily with water, LDR or HDR (1 mL); data expressed as mean (g or mL) ± SEM. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

Table 2 Total daily food (g) and water (mL) intake, and faecal (g) and urine (mL) output for the trial period after the administration of 5-FU (days 6 to 8).

	Water + saline	Water + 5-FU	LDR + 5-FU	HDR + 5-FU
Food intake (g)	29.1 ± 0.6	11.5 ± 1.6e	7.8 ± 0.6	5.2 ± 1.4d
Water intake (mL)	75.0 ± 4.3	94.4 ± 7.7	107.2 ± 5.1	90.6 ± 12.9
Wet faecal output (g)	3.3 ± 0.2	2.9 ± 0.3	2.1 ± 0.3	1.7 ± 0.3c
Urine output (mL)	47.5 ± 4.7	64.5 ± 6.7	71.0 ± 2.1	70.6 ± 10.4

Rats were gavaged daily with water, LDR or HDR (1 mL) and received an intraperitoneal injection of either saline or 5-FU on day 5.

^cP < 0.05,

^dP < 0.01 vs water + 5-FU;

^eP < 0.001 vs water + saline. All values are expressed as mean [% relative to bodyweight (× 10^-2)] ± SEM. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

Bodyweight change

A reduction in feed intake was consistent with decreased bodyweight after 5-FU administration (Figure 2). Prior to inducing intestinal mucositis with 5-FU, RE had no significant effect on bodyweight. Treatment with 5-FU resulted in a significant reduction in bodyweight compared to normal controls (P < 0.01). However, compared to 5-FU controls, HDR and LDR had no effect on mean bodyweight following 5-FU administration.

Figure 2 Daily change in starting bodyweight (%) from days 0 to 8 in rats gavaged with water, LDR or HDR and intraperitoneally injected with saline or 5-FU on Day 5. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Mean values of 5-FU controls and 5-FU + LDR and 5-FU + HDR were significantly different when vs water + saline controls; ^bP < 0.01. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

DAI score

Administration of 5-FU significantly increased DAI scores in comparison to healthy controls (P < 0.01; Figure 3). Days 6 and 8 produced significantly greater DAI scores in 5-FU treated rats administered HDR and LDR, respectively, compared to 5-FU controls; otherwise, RE treatments had no significant effect on symptomatic disease activity.

Figure 3 Effects of rhubarb extract and 5-fluorouracil on disease activity scores on days 6 to 8 of the experimental period. Rats received a daily water, HDR or LDR gavage for an 8-d trial period and an intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU or saline on day 5. Disease activity scores were assigned on Days 6 to 8 based on overall condition, weight loss, stool consistency and rectal bleeding. ^bP < 0.01, ^eP < 0.001 vs water + saline; ^cP < 0.05 vs water + 5-FU. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

Visceral gastrointestinal organ weights and lengths

Visceral and gastrointestinal organ weights were expressed as a proportion of bodyweight (Tables 3 and 4). Reductions in relative thymus (by ≥ 35%; P < 0.001) and relative spleen weight (by ≥ 23%; P < 0.001) were apparent in all rats treated with 5-FU when compared to healthy controls (Table 3). In 5-FU treated rats, HDR and LDR had no significant effect on visceral organ weights compared to 5-FU controls.

Table 3 Visceral organ weights of rats gavaged daily with water, low-dose or high-dose rhubarb extract (1 mL) during an 8-d trial period and administered with an intraperitoneal injection of saline or 5-fluorouracil on day 5.

	Water + saline	Water + 5-FU	LDR + 5-FU	HDR + 5-FU
Thymus	14.6 ± 1.3	6.6 ± 0.5e	9.4 ± 0.6	9.5 ± 0.9
Heart	37.5 ± 0.8	39.0 ± 1.0	39.4 ± 0.8	39.1 ± 0.7
Lung	60.0 ± 2.2	63.0 ± 2.5	67.3 ± 4.7	71.9 ± 3.0
Liver	362.9 ± 6.5	362.7 ± 11.0	358.8 ± 7.2	339.7 ± 7.2
Spleen	20.3 ± 0.5	15.6 ± 0.3e	15.2 ± 0.4	14.6 ± 0.5
Kidneys	75.6 ± 5.3	86.5 ± 1.7	88.7 ± 1.1	89.4 ± 2.7
Caecum	39.7 ± 1.1	43.7 ± 2.4	49.2 ± 2.5	47.0 ± 2.1
Stomach	57.3 ± 2.6	55.3 ± 1.1	58.8 ± 0.9	61.9 ± 1.2

^eP < 0.001 vs water + saline. All values are expressed as mean [% relative to bodyweight (× 10^-2)] ± SEM. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

Table 4 Gastrointestinal organ weights of rats gavaged daily with water, low-dose and high-dose rhubarb extract (1 mL) during an 8-d rial period and administered an intraperitoneal injection of saline or 5-fluorouracil on day 5.

	Water + saline	Water + 5-FU	LDR + 5-FU	HDR+ 5-FU
Duodenum	0.2 ± 0.0	0.2 ± 0.0	0.2 ± 0.0	0.2 ± 0.0
Jejunum and ileum	2.1 ± 0.1	1.9 ± 0.0b	1.9 ± 0.2	1.9 ± 0.1
Colon	0.5 ± 0.0	0.5 ± 0.0	0.7 ± 0.0d	0.6 ± 0.0

^bP < 0.01 vs water + saline;

^dP < 0.01 vs water + 5-FU. All values are expressed as mean (% relative to bodyweight) ± SEM. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

A significant decrease in the combined jejunum and ileum relative weight (by ≥ 10%; P < 0.01) was evident in all 5-FU treated rats (Table 4). However, this effect was not present in the duodenum. There was also no effect of HDR or LDR on relative duodenum weight and the combined relative weights of jejunum and ileum in 5-FU treated rats, compared to 5-FU controls. Administration of 5-FU had no effect on relative colon weight in comparison to healthy controls. However, when compared to 5-FU controls, administration of LDR to 5-FU treated rats significantly increased colon weight (29%; P < 0.01). Additionally, 5-FU significantly reduced the combined jejunum and ileum length in comparison to healthy controls (Table 5). However, this effect was not evident in the duodenum and colon. The administration of HDR and LDR to 5-FU treated rats had no effect on gastrointestinal organ lengths in comparison to 5-FU controls.

Table 5 Gastrointestinal organ lengths of rats gavaged daily with water, low-dose and high-dose rhubarb extract (1 mL) during an 8-d trial period and administered an intraperitoneal injection of saline or 5-fluorouracil on day 5.

	Water + saline	Water + 5-FU	LDR + 5-FU	HDR+ 5-FU
Duodenum	5.5 ± 0.2	4.8 ± 0.1	5.1 ± 0.2	4.8 ± 0.2
Jejunum and ileum	71.6 ± 2.3	64.8 ± 0.9a	62.9 ± 1.8	63.5 ± 1.7
Colon	11.1 ± 0.3	10.6 ± 0.4	11.2 ± 0.2	10.8 ± 0.4

^aP < 0.05 vs water + saline. All values expressed as mean (cm) ± SEM. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

Disease severity score

Healthy small intestinal sections achieved median disease severity scores of ≤ 2. Administration of 5-FU caused significant damage to intestinal structure in the jejunum, JI and ileum; achieving median (range) scores of 21 (18-30), 21 (14-27) and 22 (17-25), respectively, when assessed by semi-quantitative histological scores based on 11 parameters (Figure 4). However, RE had no significant effect on intestinal structure, relative to 5-FU controls.

Figure 4 Histological damage assessed by semi-quantitative disease severity score of the jejunum, jejuno-ileum and ileum of rats. Data are expressed as median score (range). Mean values were significantly different vs water + 5-FU (^fP < 0.001). JI: Jejuno-ileum; LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

MPO activity

Increased intestinal MPO activity is a common feature of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis[31]. When compared to healthy controls, 5-FU resulted in increased MPO activity by 780% in the jejunum and 310% in the JI and ileum (Figure 5). RE had no significant effect on MPO activity within the jejunum and the JI in 5-FU treated rats. However, administration of LDR to 5-FU treated rats resulted in reduced MPO activity by 45% (P < 0.05) in the ileum, compared to 5-FU controls.

Figure 5 Myeloperoxidase activity present in the jejunum, jejuno-ileum and ileum of rats gavaged with water, low-dose or high-dose rhubarb extract (1 mL) for an 8-d trial period. Rats received an intraperitoneal injection of saline or 5-FU on day 5. Data were expressed as mean [MPO Units (U)/g] ± SEM. Mean values were significantly different (^fP < 0.001) vs water + 5-FU. ^cP < 0.05 vs water + 5-FU. JI: Jejuno-ileum; LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: high-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

Villus height, crypt depth and mucosal thickness

The combined measurements of villus height and crypt depth provided an overall indication of mucosal thickness and thus, damage (Figure 6). Administration of 5-FU significantly decreased mucosal thickness by 29% in the jejunum, and 34% in both the JI and ileum when compared to healthy controls. RE had no significant effect on villus height and crypt depth in the jejunum, compared to 5-FU controls. This effect was mirrored in the JI, with the exception of crypt depth which was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in 5-FU treated rats receiving HDR. More importantly, administration of LDR to 5-FU treated rats resulted in significantly greater ileal villus heights and crypt depths relative to 5-FU controls; significantly increasing overall ileal mucosal thickness by 19% (Figure 7).

Figure 6 Combination of villus height and crypt depth as a representation of overall mucosal thickness in female Dark Agouti rats. Effects of RE and 5-FU on villus height and crypt depth in female Dark Agouti rats. Rats received a daily water, HDR or LDR gavage for an 8-d trial period and an intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU or saline on Day 5. Mean values were significantly different vs water + 5-FU (^cP < 0.05, ^fP < 0.001). ^aP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.001 vs water + saline. JI: Jejuno-ileum; LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.

Figure 7 A comparison of the histological structure of ileal sections in a healthy rat (A), after administration of 5-FU (B) and rats treated with LDR + 5-FU (C). Ileum sections of rats from the LDR + 5-FU treatment group (C) exhibited improved mucosal integrity as demonstrated by more defined villi and crypts in comparison to water + 5-FU controls (B). The black line on each diagram represents villus height in each section which was significantly shorter in 5-FU controls. Sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and mucosal thickness was analysed by quantitative measurements of villus height and crypt depth. Original photographs were captured at 4 × magnification. LDR: Low-dose rhubarb extract.

DISCUSSION

Intestinal mucositis remains a debilitating side-effect of chemotherapy treatment. The current study utilised a rat model of intestinal mucositis to investigate the potential for aqueous RE to protect against damage to the intestinal mucosa and regulate water transport in the intestine. The water-soluble components of rhubarb appeared to target more distal regions of the alimentary tract, partially improving selected parameters of the ileum, such as mucosal thickness and MPO activity associated with the clinical manifestations of 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis.

Administration of 5-FU significantly decreased feed intake and bodyweight as previously described[12,31,37]. A reduction in feed intake and bodyweight is observed in cancer patients due to nausea and pain associated with chemotherapy treatment[38,39]. Interestingly, in the current study, daily administration of HDR to 5-FU treated rats further reduced appetite but maintained bodyweight. It is therefore plausible that the caloric index of HDR may have been contributing to the reduced appetite, yet maintenance of bodyweight in the rats receiving high dose RE.

In the current study, intraperitoneal administration of 5-FU caused significant damage to small intestinal structure, further impacting on intestinal weight and length. Previous studies of experimental intestinal mucositis have noted a correlation between small intestinal weight and mucosal integrity which was also demonstrated in the current study[13,31]. Jejunum and ileum weights were significantly decreased in 5-FU treated rats, accompanied by increased villus and crypt damage when compared to healthy controls. Enterocyte apoptosis in 5-FU treated rats was likely responsible for the reduced small intestinal weight. However, RE administered to 5-FU treated rats had no significant effect on intestinal weight, compared to 5-FU controls, which suggested that RE did not enhance cell regeneration after 5-FU toxicity.

Administration of 5-FU may result in exposure of the submucosa to harsh luminal conditions[6]. As a compensatory mechanism, the muscularis externa contracts to reduce submucosal contact with the luminal environment in an attempt to prevent bacterial translocation. In the current study, the length of the total jejunum and ileum was reduced by 5-FU treatment, as described previously by Mashtoub et al[31]. However, consistent with previous studies, this effect was not present in the duodenum and colon as 5-FU damage was less severe in these regions of the intestine[12,13,31].

In the current study, LDR treatment resulted in a significant increase in ileal villus height and crypt depth; possibly representing LDR promoted crypt cell regeneration and hence, increased migration of rejuvenated cells to the villus. Alternatively, LDR may have exerted an anti-oxidative effect, mediated by the water soluble polysaccharides of rhubarb which may have protected the intestinal mucosa against cell apoptosis; maintaining villus and crypt structure. A reduction in ileal MPO activity by LDR in 5-FU treated rats indicated a decrease in neutrophil activity which further supports the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of RE. These results are consistent with previous studies which have exploited plant polysaccharides for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties[12,40,41]. Cheah et al[12,14] examined grape seed extract (GSE), a tannin rich by-product of the wine and grape juice industries, in the setting of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis. It was discovered that GSE could partially ameliorate small intestinal inflammation and mucosal damage caused by 5-FU cytotoxicity. Tannins, an active constituent of GSE and possibly RE, possess the ability to prevent the overproduction of ROS or decrease the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IFN-γ[12,17]. Further investigations are therefore required to understand the protective and anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of RE in improving acute intestinal inflammation and damage to the mucosa.

A significant improvement in ileal mucosal integrity and inflammation was observed in 5-FU rats treated with LDR, but not HDR. Limited RE studies have been conducted, therefore the low and high dose range of 20 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg were selected in the current study to determine the effects of RE across a broad dose range. The efficacy of RE in the current study may therefore have been dose-dependent. Prior to this study, the effects of RE on 5-FU-induced mucosal damage and inflammation were unknown and accordingly, the RE optimal concentration remains undefined. The present study suggested that the effectiveness of RE at varying concentrations may follow a normally distributed relationship. Potentially, at high concentrations (≥ 200 mg/kg BW), no significant effects may have been observed due to steric involution of bioactive binding sites. Further studies are therefore required to determine the optimal concentration to attain maximal mucosal protection.

Chemotherapy recipients experiencing intestinal mucositis have altered membrane integrity and impaired water absorption and secretion[7]. Any molecule of a similar size or shape possesses the capability to attach to the pore vestibule and block the transport of water through AQP channels. Pharmacological blockers of aquaporin fluid fluxes are thought to occlude the pore vestibule and impede the bi-directional transport of water through the channel[42-44]. In the current study, RE present in the circulatory system may have targeted AQP 4 channels within enterocytes, resulting in a unidirectional blockade, and thereby decreased water secretion into the lumen of the small intestine. This hypothesised theory is further explained in Figure 1D. Wang et al[29] determined that AQP 4 knockout mice had significantly higher stool moisture content in comparison to wild-type (P < 0.05). This suggested that stool consistency was dependent on the functionality of AQP 4 channels. This study also established that AQP 4 channels are scarce within the large intestine. Furthermore, within the large intestine, AQP 4 channels are only present on the initial section of the proximal colon[29]. Therefore, it is probable that fluid absorption and secretion across AQP 4 channels in the small intestine may have been partly responsible for the moisture content of the faeces in the current study. Further in vivo studies should identify the expression levels of AQP 4 and other aquaporins to determine morphological and potential functional changes after 5-FU exposure. Qin et al[18] demonstrated that aqueous RE improved stool consistency in mice with castor oil and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhoea. Furthermore, aqueous RE caused constipation when administered to normal mice suggesting that RE may have been acting on AQP 4 channels to alter water absorption in the intestine. Consequently, further studies are required to determine the moisture content of caecal fluid to confirm or refute the hypothesis that RE affects stool consistency. This would allow for comparison of water absorption and secretion in the small intestine, independent of the colon. A reduction in caecal moisture content would suggest that RE was preventing fluid secretion across small intestinal AQP 4 channels.

In summary, the present study demonstrated that the ancient herbal remedy RE in its aqueous form, at relatively low dose, offers partial protection to the distal intestinal mucosa against tissue damage and inflammation associated with 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis. Further studies are warranted to identify the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of RE via examination of inflammatory cytokines in blood and tissue. This provides preliminary information regarding the potential use of RE as an adjunct to chemotherapy to improve particular histological manifestations of intestinal mucositis. Moreover, the reduced ileal inflammation and improved mucosal thickness suggests further therapeutic potential for other gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders that ultimately affect the more distal regions of the alimentary tract. However, the potential drug-drug interactions of RE and chemotherapy drugs, such as 5-FU should be thoroughly investigated as recent studies have highlighted concern over such interactions[45]. Future research should also focus on analysing moisture content of caecal fluid to determine whether RE acts as a unidirectional blocker of AQP 4 channels in the small intestine. Finally, further investigation into the active constituents of RE would be beneficial to improve our understanding of its potential utility in bowel disease and its associated mechanism of action.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank Elizabeth Brown and Joseph Fabian for their assistance with pilot studies. Additionally, the authors would like to thank Shuguan Bi at the University of California Santa Barbara for assistance with lectin array profiling.

COMMENTS

Background

The need to discover effective treatment approaches for chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis is growing as cancer incidence continues to increase and thus, the incidence of treatment-related side-effects increases. Traditional medicines are continually being examined for their therapeutic potential in cancer and chemotherapy settings. Accordingly, the aqueous extract of rhubarb (Rheum Spp.) was investigated for its potential to improve intestinal integrity and acute inflammation in experimentally-induced intestinal mucositis in rats.

Research frontiers

To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to identify the therapeutic effect of aqueous rhubarb extract (RE) in experimentally-induced intestinal mucositis.

Innovations and breakthroughs

This is the first study examining the potential for aqueous RE to improve intestinal integrity and acute inflammation in a rat model of 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis.

Applications

The promising findings presented in the current study indicate that a low dose of aqueous RE improves selected parameters of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis. Future studies should determine the active factor of the compound so that it can be extracted and further examined for clinical efficacy.

Terminology

5-FU is a widely utilised chemotherapy drug used to treat a range of cancer types from colon to breast cancer. It may be used independently however, is most commonly used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs, such as Methotrexate. RE was obtained from the stalks of the traditional herbal medicine Rheum spp. The low dose of RE (LDR) was based on the estimated dose required to block aquaporin water channel activity in the oocyte expression system, and the high dose (HDR) was selected as a 10 fold higher concentration for comparison. Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins responsible for the regulation of water transport across a membrane via an osmotic gradient. Currently, 13 mammalian AQPs have been identified (AQP 0-12). AQPs are abundant in tissues reliant on high water permeability to maintain correct function and are involved in metabolic processes such as kidney, lung, brain and gastrointestinal function.

Peer-review

This manuscript is well written. The scientific hypothesis and the appropriate tests are well explained and conducted. Results are fairly discussed, notably the question of the need for further experiments investigating an optimal dose.